NASA ‘LightCube’ Mission To ‘Flash’ Earth Despite Ethics, Light Pollution Concerns
"There are all sorts of types of pollution that we create where we don’t consider the ill effects until it’s too late to reverse course. The idea of seeing a signal from space that’s activated explicitly by one human user, but that will affect every ground-based observer who has a clear line-of-sight to that satellite, is unconscionable for an astronomer. We have extremely tight regulations on cities, infrastructure, and ground-based light sources near an observatory, and it’s now apparent that even a student-run project, even one vetted by NASA, can circumvent all of that hard work with one ill-considered decision.
The truth should be more apparent than ever: we need guidelines, regulation, and consistency when it comes to preserving the night sky for all of humanity. Amateurs and professionals alike benefit from dark, clear skies, as do all humans and animals. The true value of dark, pristine skies has never been quantified, but the ill effects of losing our darkness have been measured on the health, sleep, and longevity of humans and other living creatures. We’re all free to live and create exactly as we choose, but not at the expense of the health, wellness, and freedom of others."
Part of the reason that paying attention is so important is because there's negligence and a lack of oversight everywhere you go. Let's stop this madness.
